Maple, Amur

Plant of the Week

Amur MapleLatin: Acer ginnala

Amur maple is a low-branched tree that is usually as wide as it is tall.

Fall is the season for maples, of which there are many. The large trees with enormous
mops of bright red and orange foliage get most of the press in autumn, but a number
of smaller maples are available and have something to offer in smaller spaces. One
of these lesser-known and easy-to-grow species is the Amur Maple, Acer ginnala.

Amur maple grows as a low-branched small tree or large shrub reaching 15 to 20 feet
in height and spread. Most Amur maples are seedling grown, so there is considerable
variation in plant form and fall color, but most trees branch a foot or two from the
ground and produce smooth, gray-brown bark. As young trees they are very fast growing.

The leaves are 2 to 3 inches long, three-lobed and glossy green in the summer. In
the fall, color ranges from yellow to orange and red. Several color combinations will
often be seen on the same tree. Fall color development occurs at a young age. Trees
produce heavy crops of seeds in the fall, and an occasional seedling may be found
amongst the flowers.

The Amur maple's common name comes from the name of the river in northern Asia from
which it was collected during a four-year long expedition by Russian botanist Carl
Maximowicz (1827-1891). His Amur River expedition was from 1853 to 1857. Seeds of
a number of common garden plants - including the Amur maple, Amur honeysuckle and
Amur corktree - were introduced to the West when he returned to the St. Petersburg
Botanical Garden. Maximowicz also spent five years collecting plants in Japan, so
many common garden plants were identified and collected as a result of his work.

The Amur River is 1,755 miles long and runs generally east from near the eastern end
of Mongolia to the Sea of Japan. It forms the border between China and Russia during
much of its length. Most of its watershed is between 45 and 50 degrees North latitude,
an area in this hemisphere equivalent to the U.S.-Canadian border.

Though there may be considerable variation in color, the best clonal selections of
Amur maple have good orange-red fall color.

The Amur maple is useful for screening, creating a backdrop for garden plantings or
wherever a small specimen plant is needed. Because it is hardy from zones 3 through
8, it has considerable root hardiness and can be used in above-ground containers and
raised beds where other more tender species might freeze out. It will grow equally
well in full sun or light shade. Fall color development is equally good for plants
growing in shady portions of the garden.

Like all maples it has a shallow, fibrous root system, so planting a groundcover planting
at the same time as the tree is planted is a good idea. A number of selected clones
are available with 'Flame,' 'Embers' and 'Red November' good choices for reliable
red color development.

The University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture does not maintain lists of retail
outlets where these plants can be purchased. Please check your local nursery or other
retail outlets to ask about the availability of these plants for your growing area.